Vol. 16, No. 38	Aug. 7, 1997

Study confirms welcoming climate for students, staff

The University of Delaware works very hard to offer a welcoming climate to members of the campus community, and it succeeds in doing so, according to students, faculty and staff who participated in a survey conducted for the UD's Commission to Promote Rac ial and Cultural Diversity.

The survey's preliminary results were shared with the campus in the commission's annual report in the fall of 1996. A more in-depth look at the data was presented last spring to the commission.

"The response to this survey indicates a University atmosphere where students, faculty and staff feel comfortable," Maxine Colm, vice president for administration, said. "The results reinforce those of employee satisfaction survey conducted in 1995 and th e fact that the University was recently listed as one of the 29 (out of approximately 3,000) most family-friendly institutions in the country.

"A page-one story on the survey appeared this week in the Wilmington News Journal. The reader of that article could have missed the point that the survey was designed to provide a thoughtful gauge of satifaction with the myriad of programs related to diversity we already offer and to see if there were ways we could improve," she said.

"Overall, I was pleased by the positive response to the University as a good place to work and study. That the response was a positive one deserves emphasis, especially in light of the good work done by many, many individuals on our campus who are endeavo ring to make our institution a wonderful place to live, work and grow.

"We are also indebted to the many survey respondents who provided ideas about ways for the University to enhance the programs and services now being offered," Colm said.

Araya Debessay, chairperson of the commission and professor of accounting at UD, said the survey was a tool designed to assist the commission in its mission to help promote a diverse educational community.

"We take very seriously our responsibility in this matter," Debessay said. "The University and the commission have worked hard to help make the University a more inviting and comfortable place. This survey is one way for us to learn where we need to conce ntrate our efforts."

According to the survey, the majority of student and employee survey respondents-an average of 80 percent-said they had never been present at a University-affiliated event where a diverse group of people would not feel welcome.

More than 50 percent of all survey respondents "agreed" or "strongly agreed" with University's policies and procedures that relate to diversity, and they indicated they were satisfied with their UD experience.

Of employees surveyed:

• More than 50 percent agreed "we are all playing on the same team," and

• Almost 70 percent reported they had experienced no harassment or discrimination.

• Almost 70 percent reported no discrimination or harassment on campus, and

• The majority of those who said they had experienced it said it occurred in locations other than the classroom.

In other survey findings, the majority of employees and students said they had not heard employees make disparaging remarks about persons of a specific group. Student respondents reported hearing negative comments from fellow students,not from faculty or staff.

Of those who felt they had been discriminated against or harassed on this campus, by far the most frequent types of harassment or discrimination listed across all groups were "verbal comments" and "being ignored." When asked to what this harassment or dis crimination was due, "gender" and "race" were the most frequently chosen options across all groups.

The survey was administered in March 1996 to a random, stratified sample of 1,726 full-time employees and 2,314 full-time students on the Newark campus, and the response rate was 65.4 percent for employees and 49.6 percent for students.

According to Michael F. Middaugh, assistant vice president for institutional research and planning, whose office prepared the study, the data presents an accurate picture of the group surveyed, providing useful information to identify areas of concern and to determine how members of the campus feel.

"But the group surveyed represents less than 20 percent of the student population and approximately half of the employees at the University," he added. "Given the response rate to the survey, and the comparatively small number within the population subgro ups (gender, ethnicity, sexual preference, etc.), it would be inappropriate to generalize."